Way to Remember

YARN MITOSIS

adapted from: http://local.brookings.k12.sd.us/biology/teacherlinks/yarnmitosis.htm

Phase / description / Way to remember / Image
Interphase / DNA is spread out as chromatin. Cell starts with 6 chromosomes. (3 long purple and 3 long green strings in center of cell). Nuclear membrane is visible. (place pink yarn piece around DNA). At the end if Interphase, the DNA is copied. (use 3 long purple and 3 green strands and add to nucleus). / IN between dividing
Prophase / Replace longer yarn pieces in nucleus with shorter ones because the DNA condenses. Keep 2 matching pairs together. Nucleus disappears (remove pink yarn around chromosomes). Spindle fibers appear (students fingers will play role of spindle fibers). / First diving phase - Pros are #1
Metaphase / Chromosomes line up in middle of the cell (place yarn pairs in center of cell in a line). / Middle
Anaphase / Chromosome pairs separate and move toward opposite ends of the cell (use fingers (spindles) to pull apart yarn and move toward opposite sides of cell.) / Apart
Telophase / Chromosomes spread back out into DNA. (replace shorter purple and green stands with longer ones). Nucleus returns (put a pink string around each set of chromosomes). / Two nuclei
Cytokinesis / Cytoplams splits in two. (pinch center of fell membrane together to make two new cells.) / cytoplasm splits